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Prevalence of caries and salivary levels of mutans streptococci in 5‐year‐old children in relation to duration of breast feeding
Author(s) -
ALALUUSUA SATU,
MYLLÄRNIEMI SINIKKA,
KALLIO MARKKU,
SALMENPERÄ LEENA,
TAINIO VELIMATTI
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0722.1990.tb00961.x
Subject(s) - medicine , streptococcus mutans , saliva , breast feeding , dentistry , physiology , pediatrics , biology , bacteria , genetics
– 144 children with a known breast feeding history were studied for their caries prevalence and level of salivary mutans streptococci. 19% of the children were exclusively breastfed for more than 9 months and 38% of the children were weaned after the age of 12 months (max. 34 months). The results of the study showed an equal caries prevalence at the age of 5 among children with a longer or shorter period of exclusive breast‐feeding (x 2 = 3.68, 9 df, NS). Exclusive breast‐feeding also did not affect the levels of salivary mutans streptococci (x 2 = 4.87, 9 df, NS). Children who were weaned late did not differ from those who were weaned early with respect to caries experience (x 2 = 6.12, 9 df, NS), level of salivary mutans streptococci (x 2 = 5.49, 9 df, NS) or presence of mutans streptococci (x 2 = 1.53, 4 df, NS). On the basis of our sample we concluded that breast feeding alone cannot be connected with an increased or lowered caries prevalence.